Long Beach Herald 04-16-2026

HERALD LONG BEACH

& East Atlantic Beach

Remembering Gerrin Hagen

Chris Colucci/Herald

her daughters, Avellina, 13, Fiora, 11, and Toni, 6 — encouraged boardwalk passersby to leave a handprint and become part of the mural.

Mural celebrates ‘Many Hands, One Earth’

By CHRIS ColUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

“The water is the life blood of Mother Earth. The water that I carry is the blood of Mother Earth. The water is the life blood of our bodies.”

Susan Gallo sang the Algonquin water prayer, in its original indigenous version, each time a volunteer applied a handprint to the boardwalk-facing mural on the wall of the vacant Hebrew Academy of Long Beach last week. The song honored the nearby ocean, which is also celebrated in the artwork.

The building-length painting is a collection of handprints of all sizes overlaid on three crashing waves. Vinyl art prints, supplied by Long Beach’s Artists in Partnership and showcasing local artists, adorn plywood planks covering the former school’s broken windows. Around each corner, on the sides of the building, which has been shuttered for nearly a decade, mural artists were invited to create their own water-themed

ConTinued on pAGe 10

Longtime L.B. lifeguard steps down from alumni group

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

Whether through his service in the U.S. Navy, the Long Beach lifeguards or the Long Beach Lifeguard Alumni Association, Lynn Brown has long believed in serving his community. His story begins on Lincoln Boulevard and Beech Street. Starting in 1969, Brown patrolled the beaches as a member of the Lifeguard Patrol’s West and Central crews. As a youngster, he grew up idolizing local lifeguards like Jack Murphy, Randy Dodd, George Schilling and Jean and John Carbona.

“My skills as a leader really

started with those guys,” Brown, 73, said. “They really molded me into who I am as a lifeguard and a person, the way they gave back to the community.”

One memorable rescue took place near Edwards Boulevard. From the lifeguard chair, Bernie Birne, a future East Crew captain, spotted man in the ocean with his hand raised for help.

“I remember Bernie telling me to go,” Brown said. “And I just went.”

When he wasn’t on the beach, Brown played lacrosse at Long Beach High School, and was a member of the school’s

Nassau County champion swim team in 1971. During his school days, he crossed paths with Sherman Brown — no relation — the first African American lifeguard in Long Beach. An All-State wrestler and football player, Sherman Brown set an admirable example that Lynn Brown did his best to follow.

“He was an amazing individual,” Lynn Brown said. “He taught me respect.”

Brown went on to swim for a semester at SUNY Cortland before shifting his focus. In 1972, he enlisted in the Navy. His father, Joseph Brown, had served as an aviation gunner’s mate second class in World War

II, aboard the USS Gambier Bay. He told tell Lynn stories about the war, including when the Japanese vessel Yamato sank the Gambier Bay. Despite having been hit by three gunshots, Joseph, wearing a life preserver, survived in the water with his comrades for 49 hours. Listening to those stories motivated Lynn Brown to

enlist. “I really wanted to join the Navy, because my dad was in it,” he said.

Toward the end of the Vietnam War, when he received his draft number, he was sworn in at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. He served as a petty officer third class above the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy

ConTinued on pAGe 14

The energetic fundraising team — Susan Gallo and

Blakeman looks to curtail NIFA’s oversight

By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor, held a news conference last week to laud the county’s budget surplus and financial stability. Blakeman also called for an end to the strict oversight of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which was created in 2000 to monitor county finances.

“We are calling on NIFA to basically transfer from being a control authority to an advisory authority,” Blakeman said on April 10. “NIFA costs county taxpayers approximately $3 million a year in administrative expenses. That money is unnecessary. It is not doing anything to help our fiscal status.”

The $3 million cost Blakeman cited is a rough estimate of the combined salaries of the five NIFA committee members. The committee has had oversight of county spending since 2011.

“We will do everything necessary to make sure that we are no longer burdened in a control period that is completely unnecessary, unwarranted and, quite frankly, not according to the law,” Blakeman added.

Richard Kessel, chairman and director of NIFA, delivered a direct rebuttal, saying, “The only reason the county budget is balanced is that it got over $200 million in federal funding during

Covid, and it’s using that money and other reserves to balance and to hide what is a deficit.” In 2024, Blakeman’s administration moved more than $220 million received from federal pandemic aid into the county’s general fund.

Blakeman noted recent county prosperity — including seven bond upgrades in the past three and a half years and gross economic output that he described as larger than that of nearly 150 mem-

bers of the United Nations — before addressing the potential for a political slant to NIFA’s financial control.

“NIFA has been a political machine, governed by [Gov.] Kathy Hochul,” he said. “She wants to control every aspect of our business here in Nassau County, just like she has throughout the state of New York.”

Blakeman said that State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, has

declared that the county has no fiscal stress. And County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, a Republican, emphasized Nassau’s financial health despite rising costs statewide. “In 2024 to 2025, we saw almost a $5 million increase in health insurance costs,” Phillips said, “[and] a 23 percent increase in our pension costs.”

Phillips commended Blakeman’s decision not to raise county taxes for the entirety of his four-year tenure, and added that NIFA’s shift to an advisory role would be appropriate. “I wholly support that NIFA does not keep us in a control period,” she said.

County Treasurer David Chiang also voiced support for reduced NIFA oversight while stressing the county’s current financial position. “Nassau County is in the best fiscal shape it’s ever been in,” he said. “Without cutting services, we have maintained our service level while keeping revenues stable. Our expenses have been going down. We have budget surpluses.”

“Bruce Blakeman has no authority to decide whether there’s a control period in effect,” Kessel said. “It’s our position that a control period is absolutely necessary, and we will continue it going forward. It’s up to us to decide whether or not to decide to have a control period. If he doesn’t comply with it, we’ll take the appropriate action at the appropriate time.”

Chris Colucci/Herald

County Executive Bruce Blakeman, center, recognized the financial guidance of Comptroller Elaine Phillips and Treasurer David Chiang at a news conference last week.

Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day returns

The G2H Foundation and the City of Long Beach returned to the Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena for the 4th annual Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day on April 11.

G2H is a local nonprofit supporting community-based charities, first-responder charities and families in need. Formed in March 2023, it honors the memory of Gerrin Hagen.

Hagen died in January 2023 just two weeks after his 18th birthday. He was struck from behind by a Honda SUV that ran a stop sign while attempting to pass another vehicle. Hagen was studying carpentry in the mornings at Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center — heading to his car to drive to Long Beach High School for his afternoon classes.

The day began with a morning clinic for Long Beach Lighting players, ages 8 through 11, coached by Long Beach Lightning staff and the Farmingdale State College Hockey Team.

At 2:30 p.m., the Nassau County Police Department Hockey Team took on the FDNY Hockey Team. The FDNY secured a 6-1 victory. At 5:00 PM the Toronto Fire Hockey Club faced the Long Beach Guardians Hockey Club, with the Guardians also claiming a 6-1 victory.

Fans participated in a T-shirt launch, bubble ball races, a 50/50 raffle and fundraisers — including the Chuck-A-Puck contest, where fans threw pucks onto the ice aiming for targets, with proceeds benefiting the G2H foundation.

–Aidan Warshavsky

Justine Stefanelli/Herald photos

The Long Beach Guardians wore Hagen’s name on their jerseys as they faced off against the Toronto Fire Hockey Club. The teams met on the ice for an intense match-up.

The FDNY hockey team earned a decisive win over the Nassau County Police team.

Photos courtesy Kim Miller

Seamus Callahan, far left, Aidan Monaghan, Timmy Phillips, Gavin McConnon and Caden Ward, were some of many who attended the memorial hockey games.

Young hockey enthusiasts had the opportunity to engage in youth clinics in the morning under the guidance of top-tier coaches.

fourth year

a row, the Long Beach Ice Arena was loaded with spectators looking to honor Hagen’s memory.

News briefs

L.B. woman arrested, attempted kidnapping

Heather Magone, of Long Beach, has been charged with attempted kidnapping for allegedly attempting to unbuckle a baby from a stroller on April 6. She allegedly claimed to be the baby’s mother.

Stefan Chernaski, the department’s deputy inspector, commended the actions of the baby’s great grandfather.

“This man was able to protect his great-granddaughter from a violent attempted abduction but also had the situational awareness to hold onto the stroller with his other hand,” he said.

Magone, 40, was walking her dog at the corner of Laurelton Boulevard and West Penn Street, in Long Beach, and approached an 80-year-old man pushing a stroller with his great-granddaughter. Magone allegedly approached the stroller, started unbuckling the safety straps, and attempted to take the baby from the stroller.

The man wrestled Magone to the ground and held her there until the Long Beach Police Department could arrive. Officers arrived at the scene one minute after the first 911 call came, city police said.

“Officer Gabrielle Gustafson arriving in one minute is an excellent example of our very quick response time here in Long Beach.

Magone was arraigned in Long Beach City Court on April 7 and held on a $50,000 cash/$100,000 bond bail.

Magone is represented by Jesse Lloyd Nadel. Her next court appearance is set for April 15.

–Aidan Warshavsky

Inwood traffic stop leads to gun arrest

“Protecting Your Future”

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mind.

According to police, two Inwood men were arrested following a traffic stop on April 7 at 8:38 p.m. on Bayview Avenue near Jeanette Avenue in Inwood.

Detectives said officers conducting a Vehicle and Traffic Law investigation stopped a 2017 Nissan. The driver was found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended license.

Police said the passenger, William Rodriguez, 43, of Loretta Street, was found in possession of a loaded revolver. Both men were taken into custody without incident.

The driver was charged with seconddegree aggravated unlicensed operation and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court in Hempstead.

Rodriguez was charged with two counts of seconddegree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead, on April 8.

–Melissa Berman

William RodRiguez

Reflecting on Holocaust at Temple Emanu-El

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

It was a day of reflection in Long Beach, as residents gathered at Temple Emanu-El this past Sunday, in advance of Yom HaShoah — an annual commemoration honoring the six million Jewish people who died during the Holocaust.

The day began with a message from Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft, whose great-grand niece, Sydney Roemer, chose to interview a Holocaust survivor for her Bat Mitzvah project. As the son of two Holocaust survivors from Poland, Zanerhaft said he was pleased with her interests.

“That is what today is all about,” he said. “Remembrance with a mission.”

Zanerhaft invited members of the crowd to come to the reader’s desk to light six candles representing loss and remembrance.

“Each candle symbolizes remembrance, hope, and angelic spirit of warm assistance,” Yvette Oppenheim, the president of the temple said. “This act serves as a tribute to victims, survivors and those affected by the Holocaust.”

Among those in attendance was Gary Reiner, a Long Beach native, who spoke about the lives of his parents, Kurt and Hennie Reiner. He shared their experiences navigating across Europe to escape religious persecution, and the challenges of living in a time dominated by fear and uncertainty.

During that time, Jews were subject to immense persecution under Nazi Germany. When Adolph Hitler took power in 1933, he implemented anti-Jewish laws that stripped Jews of their citizenship and barred them from marrying non-Jews. Students were also barred from education.

Residents gathered at Temple Emanu-El in Long Beach on April 12 to commemorate Yom

pictured at the podium, was invited to speak on the experience of his parents during the Holocaust.

As hysteria traversed Europe, Reiner said that his parents married a week before Jews were banned from having temple weddings. He also noted the degrading things Jewish people had to go through.

“There were lots of humiliations taking place,” Reiner said, reflecting on his dad’s experience. “Jews were asked to brush sidewalks with toothbrushes. Orthodox Jews were having their Pe’ot cut off.”

On Nov. 9, 1938, during Kristallnacht — the “Night of Broken Glass” — more than 1,400 Synagogues were burned, businesses were looted, and 26,000 Jewish men were arrested. Kurt Reiner was one of the men who

were arrested.

Between 1939 and 1945, Jews were forced into overcrowded, walled-of ghettos, where they suffered from starvation, disease and forced labor. When the “Final Solution” began, Nazi Germany constructed concentration camps like Auschwitz and Treblinka.

Reiner said that when his parents came to the United States, his father, an engineer, helped design the Apollo Lunar Module. Now, when he sees space launches, like the Artemis II, he thinks of his father and what he went through.

“Germany’s loss was America’s gain,” he said.

Aidan Warshavsky/Herald

HaShoah. Gary Reiner,

BRIAN FALK

SEAFORD Senior Lacrosse

A DYNAMIC THREE-SPORT athlete who helped Seaford’s football team to the Nassau Conference IV championship and the basketball team to a deep run in the Class A playoffs, Falk is one of the most talented lacrosse players in the county. He shared the Herald’s 2026 Lacrosse Preview cover with West Hempstead’s Elizabeth Poirot. Bound for Villanova, Falk racked up 25 goals and 18 assists a year ago and earned All-County honors.

games to watch

Thursday, April 16

Boys Lacrosse: Glen Cove at Freeport 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Uniondale at Clarke 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Hewlett at Baldwin 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: MacArthur at Mepham 5 p.m.

Baseball: Seaford at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Baseball: Oceanside at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Baseball: Farmingdale at Massapequa 5 p.m.

Softball: Kennedy at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Softball: V.S. North at Baldwin 5 p.m.

Softball: Plainedge at Farmingdale 5 p.m.

Softball: Hewlett at South Side 5 p.m.

Friday, April 17

Baseball: MacArthur at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Baseball: South Side at Kennedy 5 p.m.

Softball: Freeport at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Softball: Oceanside at Mepham 5 p.m.

Softball: Lawrence at East Rockaway 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Lynbrook at South Side 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Long Beach at Farmingdale 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 18

Girls Lacrosse: V.S. District at Sewanhaka 10 a.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Uniondale at East Meadow 1 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

HERALD SPORTS

Long Beach eyes playoff return

By NICK MONGIOVI sports@liherald.com

Losses can linger, but for Long Beach baseball, it sparked a response.

After a 10-0 defeat to South Side on April 7, the Marines flipped the script a day later, riding timely hitting and a strong outing from senior ace Nathan Hall to a 10-6 win; an early example of the resilience that defined the start to their season.

Long Beach is coming off an 8-14 season, where it lost to Mepham and Bellmore JFK in pool play. Through the Marines’ first six games, they’re 3-3, but 1-2 in Conference AA-1, and the record doesn’t tell the entire story.

“We got timely hits that day,” Long Beach coach Jason Zizza said of the April 8 victory. “Our pitching was outstanding from Hall. [sophomore] Kellen DeSantis came in and closed the door in the final two innings, who’s a 10th grader.”

Hall earned the team’s first conference win. He tossed five innings of tworun ball and struck out three. He headlines Long Beach’s rotation as its ace.

“Nathan’s what I like to call a gamer,” Zizza said. “He wants the ball all the time and goes out there and competes. He’s a strike thrower. He works really fast; his tempo is great. He keeps hitters off-balance. He goes after guys; it’s really fun to watch him pitch. We were able to come away with a victory, which is great against a team like South Side.”

The Marines’ offense got ‘timely hits’ and ‘capitalized’ on mistakes made by South Side, which propelled them to victory.

“Jesse Stadtman is our leading hitter right now,” Zizza said about the senior catcher who entered Friday’s game batting .600 with a .667 on-base percentage. “He’s been on absolute fire. He went one-for-three [on Friday].

“Ryden Nafte [junior second baseman] is our lead-off hitter who’s on fire as well. He’s hitting in the high .400’s. He’s great at the top of the lineup; he has really tough at-bats. Against Kellen-

berg, he had a 16-pitch at-bat, then managed to work a base hit on the 16th pitch. DeSantis, who plays first base, came up with two big hits in the win against South Side. Senior infielder/outfielder Joe Lordi is hitting around .400.

Long Beach is a team that’s becoming a fixture in the playoffs. The Marines have punched their ticket to the postseason the last four seasons and eight of their last 10. “We feel like we’re a playoff-caliber team every year,” Zizza said. “We feel like our program’s at the place now where we’re ready to take that next step and we’re ready to become a team where making the play-

offs is expected.”

An identity for this young team was described as ‘relentless’ on both sides of the ball and they’re going to ‘compete on every pitch,’ Zizza said.

“Our pitchers are going right after hitters,” Zizza said. “We stress throwing strike one and we have a motto on our team: On or off in three, strikeout in four. That means we challenge our pitchers to get every hitter to never see more than three pitches unless they’re striking out.”

The Marines are back in action on Friday against New Hyde Park on the road. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

Media Origin Inc./Herald

Junior second baseman Ryden Nafte is Long Beach’s leadoff batter off to a hot start at the plate.

Record $188,000 raised for NCPD Officer

By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

“Buy pizzas for charity” sounds like a funny idea until its real-world effect sinks in. Long Island Pizza Strong recently raised $188,000 with a one-day event taking place across the Island, supporting the family of Nassau County police officer Patricia Espinosa who was killed on Jan. 31 by an alleged drunk driver.

On Feb. 25, more than 300 pizzerias and restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk united to donate $5 for every pizza sold that day. More than 33,000 pizza pies, plus additional direct donations, led to the largest fundraiser in the organization’s three-year history.

“We dedicate and risk our lives for the communities we serve,” said Tommy Shevlin, president of the Nassau County PBA. “We don’t ask for much in return, but when tragedy happens to one of our own, to see how the community responded and supported us was truly remarkable and amazing. We’re so thankful and humbled by the support.”

As awareness of the charity’s influence has spread over the years, more restaurants across Long Island have joined the collective, swelling from almost 150 establishments in 2023 to more than 300 this year. Long Island Pizza Strong raised over $100,000 in its

Francisco Malaga, left, received the funds in memory of his late wife, Patricia Espinosa. Alyssa Guidice, center, and Anthony Laurino — two of the Long Island Pizza Strong co-founders — presented the check at the Nassau County PBA office in Plainview.

first year, after the Farmingdale High School marching band bus crash. In April 2024, the charity raised just over $181,000 in memory of NYPD Officer

Jonathan Diller. An Oct. 2024 event

BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

raised $105,000 after the West Babylon car crash which killed two teens.

The organization performed no fundraisers in 2025 and returned to action to offer support after Espinosa’s death.

“It’s so hard to put into words, because you don’t know how to feel,” said Alyssa Guidice, co-founder of Long Island Pizza Strong. “Is it super-cool that we raised $188,000? Absolutely. But then you see this poor family and it’s just like, ‘I’m not happy about this.’ No amount of money is ever going to bring her back.”

Espinosa’s family is facing an added layer of difficulty regarding her maximum pension benefits. Because the nine-year veteran was killed while en route to work, and not technically during her shift, it’s not considered a death in the line of duty and her family is ineligible to receive special line of duty death benefits. A bill is currently working its way through the New York State Senate to potentially allow an accommodation and grant the family full benefits. “It hasn’t been done a lot,” explained Shevlin, “but it has been done for first responders in the past in New York State, related to the World Trade Center. It can be done. It’s case by case. It’s a very uphill battle.”

To further support Espinosa’s family immediately following her death, the Nassau County Police Hispanic Society created a GoFundMe on behalf of her husband, NCPD officer Francisco Malaga, and their 2-year-old daughter. It is currently active and has raised nearly $315,000.

The

Courtesy Nassau PBA

Concerns about water rise across the region

Uneven investment in treatment, emerging contaminants leave many residents feeling vulnerable

By Roksana amid, stacy dRiks & Hailey FulmeR of the Herald

Sixth installment in a series about water.

Concerns about water quality remain visible and closely tied to patterns of neglect in communities across Long Island.

In the region, water problems don’t exist in isolation. Flooding, contamination and aging infrastructure are increasingly intersecting, and all of it can be traced back to a single source: the Island’s underground aquifer system. The sole-source system supplies all of the region’s drinking water, leaving little margin for error as environmental pressures intensify.

neglect beneath the surface

In Uniondale, aging infrastructure, delayed upgrades and a lack of investment are reflected in a deteriorating water tower and broader concerns about environmental health. The tower is known locally as “Old Rusty,” according to Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, and has stood for more than three decades without proper maintenance. Experts typically recommend inspection, repainting and structural upkeep every seven years, Jacobs said.

“It’s beyond repair,” she said of the tower. “You can see the corrosion. There were reports of leaks. This is not just infrastructure; it’s a health and safety issue.”

Despite years of complaints, advocates like Jacobs say local officials initially proposed only cosmetic fixes, such as applying internal epoxy coatings to stop leaks. It was only after community pressure that roughly $10 million was allocated in 2025 for a new tower. The project is still in its early stages over a year later. The new tower is planned to be fully operational by the summer of 2027.

Residents have reported brown water in their homes, raising concerns about unsafe levels of contaminants. Water quality studies conducted one of Jacobs civic partners, Jeannine Maynard, cofounder of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition and vice president of the Uniondale Community Land Trust indicated elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane, [a synthetic industrial chemical that is often found as a contaminant in water supplies, especially in places with past manufacturing or heavy chemical use], in the system.

Uniondale’s water infrastructure also includes aging pipes, with much of the system’s lead content still unknown. Maps show large portions of Uniondale untested, highlighting gaps in oversight compared with nearby communities. Advocates say these combined issues — brown water, an outdated tower, unknown lead risks and industrial contamination — reflect broader inequities.

a pattern of delays and uncertainty

The water tower is not just a one-off

issue but, for many residents, part of a broader pattern of neglect in the Town of Hempstead.

Jacobs pointed to a stark comparison: while Uniondale’s water tower deteriorated, West Hempstead received millions of dollars for a new facility. “They took taxpayer money and invested it elsewhere while our infrastructure was failing,” she said.

Uniondale residents, Jacobs said, have been diagnosed with a variety of cancers. “People start asking questions like, ‘What’s in our water?’”

reflects “a level of neglect,” leaving residents in the dark about risks.

“When things are ignored for decades, it sends a message,” Maynard said. “The question is: whose communities get prioritized and whose are left waiting?”

researchers are still working to understand the full scope.

Rising seas, stronger storms strain water supply

“We have a single-source water supply on Long Island,” Ali FarhadZadeh, an associate professor of civil engineering at Stony Brook University, said. “The water basically comes from the ground — from the aquifer.”

Residents wonder about the safety of their water because much of the community’s infrastructure has not been fully studied, said Maynard.

An interactive map from the League of Conservation Voters shows that while neighboring Hempstead has many defined lead service lines, most of Uniondale is listed as unknown, raising concerns about potential contamination. Air studies and local health data suggest higher rates of certain conditions, such as asthma, in the community, which may be linked to environmental exposure. Experts say the lack of detailed pipe inventories and testing

She also pointed to growing concern over PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of human-made chemicals often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. Used for decades in products designed to resist heat, water and stains — including firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and waterproof materials — PFAS have entered groundwater through industrial processes.

And because Long Island relies on a sole-source aquifer, those contaminants can persist and circulate throughout the region, Maynard said. “These weren’t things people were even looking for,” she said. “So they built up over time.”

She added that PFAS and related contaminants have been detected widely across Long Island. Exposure has been linked in studies to increased risks of cancers, hormone disruption and other long-term health effects, though

As storms grow more frequent and sea levels rise, that system is under mounting strain. Heavier rainfall is overwhelming drainage systems and saturating the ground, increasing flooding and raising the risk of saltwater intrusion.

“We have saltwater that’s in the sediment, under the ocean on the South Shore,” Ryan Wallace, assistant professor at Adelphi University’s Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences said. “That saltwater could actually make its way to make its way into and mix with the freshwater aquifer, and that’s a lot of different towns.”

While residents are not drinking saltwater, intrusion can render wells unusable and reduce the region’s supply of clean drinking water.

New York state launched a pilot program on March 8 to help residents with private wells testing for PFAS contamination and cover cleanup costs. Suffolk is among the counties expected to be

Courtesy City of Glen Cove

Former Glen Cove Mayor Reggie Spinello, second from left, toured the Duck Pond Road well’s filtration system with Public Works Director, James Byrne, far left, Denise O’Connor, Water Service Foreman Michael Colangelo, Daniel Ermmarino and Kevin Basile.

Water infrastructure faces increased demand

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

included.

Eligible homeowners can receive free testing and may qualify for rebates of up to $5,000 for filtration systems or $10,000 to connect to public water companies.

“It makes infrastructure like septic systems and pipelines very vulnerable,” FarhadZadeh said of heavy rainfall. “They’re old — they’re not built for the new norm that we have with these storm patterns.”

Low-lying communities — particularly along the South Shore and in eastern Suffolk County — face more frequent flooding and infrastructure stress. Flooding is no longer limited to major storms.

When groundwater is already close to the surface, even routine rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, creating a direct pathway between surface pollution and the aquifer.

“When it floods, water picks up and carries a lot of pollutants with it,” Robert Hayes, Environmental Advocates NY’s senior director of clean water, said. “Those pollutants might make their way into drinking water sources, whether it’s groundwater or surface water.”

Hayes said that investing in naturebased solutions such as wetlands or rain gardens could help capture water before it carries pollutants.

Aging infrastructure adds to growing risks

Many of Long Island’s water and sewer systems were built decades ago, at a time when both population and climate pressures were lower.

“The aging infrastructure is a big deal,” FarhadZadeh said. “I think it should be taken very seriously.”

Systems not designed to handle today’s volume of stormwater can quickly become overwhelmed, increasing the likelihood of overflows, leaks or system failures.

A $250 million water infrastructure funding package announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 12 includes projects aimed at upgrading aging systems and improving water quality statewide. It includes $23 million for the Village of Hempstead and $5 million for PFAS treatment in Williston Park.

Hayes said that such investments are critical, but risks — and resources — vary across the region.

“Long Island has some of the most polluted drinking water in the state of New York,” he said. “But there is much more contamination still out there, and much more still to be done to make sure that no New Yorker is exposed to harmful levels of contamination when they turn on the tap.”

“Drinking water and quality issues on Long Island — we can consider them to be disproportionately affecting certain communities,” Wallace said. “Especially communities with older infrastructure, in close proximity to industrial zones or historically industrial areas.” Communities like Uniondale and Hempstead Village, which also have fewer resources to address the problem.

Exposure to contaminated drinking water, Wallace said, has been associated with increased risks of cancers including stomach, bladder, kidney, ovarian and prostate.

As flooding increases and infrastructure continues to age, the challenge for Long Island is not just protecting its water supply, but understanding how interconnected pressures are reshaping it from the ground up.

N. Shore water divide highlights cost and quality

Glen Cove’s drinking water meets all state and federal safety standards, according to the city’s 2024 annual water quality report, but maintaining that standard has required years of infrastructure upgrades, careful management of its well system and, at times, reliance on neighboring communities.

In nearby Glen Head and Sea Cliff, water is supplied privately by Liberty Utilities, highlighting differences not only in cost, but in how water systems are maintained and experienced by residents.

Glen Cove relies on a network of six municipal wells, including sites at Duck Pond Road, Nancy Court, Seaman Road and Kelly Street. According to former Councilwoman Marsha Silverman, the system was under significant strain eight years ago , with only two of the six wells operational at the time.

Multiple wells were offline for different reasons — contamination, storm damage, long-term deterioration — forcing the city to act quickly to restore capacity.

“We had purchased a couple hundred thousand dollars’ worth of water from Locust Valley because we couldn’t supply Glen Cove,” Silverman said.

To stabilize the system, the city

implemented a multi-year plan that included installing temporary filtration systems at the Duck Pond Road wells to address freon contamination, repairing the Kelly Street well after a lightning strike, and fully rehabilitating the Seaman Road well.

That work is ongoing. In January, the City Council approved more than $700,000 in additional repairs to the Seaman Road well, awarding a $776,000 contract to Philip Ross Industries Inc. to upgrade its granular activated carbon system. The improvements are intended to better regulate PFAS, which have been linked to serious health risks, and ensure that the well remains in compliance with state Department of Health standards.

The investment follows a broader pattern of spending, with the city investing tens of millions of dollars in its water system in recent years, including a $5 million rehabilitation project completed in 2024 at the Seaman Road station. Those upgrades are necessary as state and federal guidelines for contaminants become increasingly strict.

“There was always talk about building a seventh well, because we really need it,” Silverman said.

Cost differences across the North Shore

Despite those infrastructure challenges, Glen Cove’s municipal system remains relatively affordable compared with neighboring communities, because it is publicly operated and not for profit.

Residents’ quarterly bills typically range from $40 to $50 in the winter to a few hundred dollars in the summer, depending on usage.

In contrast, residents of Glen Head and Sea Cliff — served by private systems — often face significantly higher costs, with some paying hundreds of

dollars per month. Those systems generally factor operational expenses, infrastructure upgrades and profit into their rate structures, contributing to higher bills.

For Glen Head resident Agatha Nadale, the cost is substantial — about $1,800 per year. Her concerns, however, extend beyond the money.

“I can remember [in the ’70s] we’d fill a pitcher of water in the summer and there were these, like, little squiggly things swimming in the water,” she said. She also recalled a strong chlorine taste, and said those early experiences continue to shape how she uses water today. Nadale said she relies on a wholehouse filtration system, and does not drink tap water.

“I have already saved a handful of families from buying homes where Liberty Utilities is,” she said.

While Glen Head’s system has undergone upgrades — including carbon filtration systems designed to remove PFAS and meet stricter standards for water quality — public perception has not always kept pace with those improvements.

Although Glen Cove’s system remains compliant, continued monitoring and investment will be necessary as environmental standards evolve.

That concern extends across Long Island, where all communities rely on the same groundwater source and face challenges not only of contamination and saltwater intrusion, but also of steadily increasing demand.

Looking ahead

Silverman has also raised the possibility of long-term alternatives, including desalination, though no formal plans have been established.

At the federal level, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi said that water quality has been a longstanding priority.

“This has been a problem for a long time, and I’ve been working on improving our water quality on Long Island for over 30 years,” Suozzi said. “Dealing with aging infrastructure as mayor of Glen Cove, I realized how crucial drinking water projects were to my community. I installed one of the earliest ‘granulated activated carbon’ filtration systems on Long Island.”

“Improvements need to consistently be made to ensure our water remains safe,” he added.

For Glen Cove, the ability to draw from neighboring systems like Locust Valley provides a critical safety net. But it also highlights the importance for the city of maintaining its own infrastructure — particularly its network of wells — as demand continues to grow.

Across the North Shore, the contrast is clear: While water may come from the same aquifer, the cost, management and experience of that water can vary significantly from one community to the next.

And for residents like Nadale, of Glen Head, those differences are not abstract — they shape daily decisions about cost, safety and trust in what comes out of the tap.

Courtesy New York American Water the new York American Water treatment facility in Glen Head has updated its filtering process with the installation of two new granular-activated carbon vessels.

Local students honor the waters with artwork

works.

Susan Gallo, a Long Beach resident and a home-school teacher, explained that her daughters — Avellina, 13, Fiora, 11, and Toni, 6 — first took interest in the environment after a snowstorm three years ago.

“I’m a home-school mom, so I have the liberty to take our lessons into life,” Gallo said. “We were driving down the road and the snow is melting, and all that trash that was there — they said, ‘Mom, where does that go?’” That sparked an ongoing interest in community cleanup.

At the March 18 City Council meeting, Gallo, along with her daughters and other students, made a request to install a 400-square-foot bioswale — a natural water-filtration system that uses native plants to trap microplastics and pollutants — along a section of Grand Boulevard.

Council members were optimistic about the project, though it would require significant planning and coordination input from engineers and designers at the state Department of Environmental Conservation as well as the city Department of Public Works. In the meantime, Gallo and her students created the mural project as a fundraiser for the bioswale. Her husband, Darren Gallo, owns the property management company currently in charge of the old Hebrew Academy grounds, making it a serendipitous location for environmentally focused artistic expression.

“It’s amazing,” Johanna MathiesonEllmer, director of Artists in Partnership, said of the project. “It just shows the power of art, community, purpose — all of the things that people get excited about and want to get behind. It makes you feel that you’re connected to something bigger than yourself.”

For three hours a day from April 6 to 10, residents passing by, artists, Gallo

and her daughters completed the series of murals across the building’s facade.

The Gallos solicited donations from anyone walking along the boardwalk, whether they left a handprint or not.

“It’s fantastic,” resident Alison Orgonas said after applying her handprint. “I love when kids are aware of the planet

and doing the right thing.”

With the building covered in artwork perfectly suited to a City by the Sea, Gallo will hold a final “blessing of the water” on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will kick off an Earth Week Art Trail throughout Long Beach, with artistic workshops and displays at a

number of locations starting next Wednesday — Earth Day — and continuing until the following Sunday.

After adding his handprint to the exterior of the Hebrew Academy, Oceanside resident Dan Rinaldi reflected on its meaning. “I’m a psychologist, and I rotated through this building in the early 2000s,” he recalled. “Every time I’d walk by, it was just kind of sad to see it become increasingly dilapidated. To see this come back and beautify the area, it’s wonderful proof of what a dedicated community can do to bring life back to something that was gone.”

Long Beach artist melinda mcKee drew inspiration from native algonquin textiles and deep, meditative breathing. Her art leaves a lasting message about serenity.

Chris Colucci/Herald photos

the vacant Hebrew academy of Long Beach was transformed from a graffiti magnet to an artistic canvas. mural artists and local residents helped to beautify the boardwalk.

this 8-by-24-foot work by the street artist known as poor rupert was one of the first pieces completed. nearly a dozen artists also contributed murals of all sizes.

Chris Colucci, editor of the Herald, did more than just take notes.

PSEG Long Island supports small businesses

Business First workshop, with topics ranging from billing to electric vehicles, scheduled for May 6

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

To mark Small Business Week, May 3-9, PSEG Long Island will host a Business First Workshop to support small businesses across the region.

The workshop is scheduled for May 6, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, at 510 Grumman Road West in Bethpage, commonly referred to as the old Grumman building. The event is intended to bring together business owners and PSEG Long Island representatives to share information about programs and services that can help businesses operate more efficiently and manage energy use and costs.

“PSEG Long Island is proud to support our local business community — the entrepreneurs who invest in our neighborhoods, drive local economy and create jobs,” Veronica Isaac, PSEG Long Island’s senior manager of Economic Development, said. “Our Business First Workshop on May 6 will present all of the products and services offered by our PSEG Long Island Business First program for small and medium business owners. We will also have a special recognition ceremony to honor local companies and business organizations that participate in, promote and support our programs.”

Last year’s Business First Workshop presenters offered information about programs and services that help businesses operate more efficiently.

The company’s Business First program provides businesses with dedicated support for managing electricity needs, as well as information on billing processes and energy-efficiency incentives. Other areas of focus include building and renovation services, electric vehicle infrastructure and fleet incen -

tives, and procurement-related opportunities.

The topics will include digital tools such as the utility’s app and online account management platforms, as well as economic development initiatives that offer grants and bill credit opportunities.

Presenters will include Nayan Parikh, on digital channels; Christine

Bryson, on economic development; Alex Nyilas, on the Business First program; Alexandro Campos, on billing; Brittany Degel, on energy efficiency; Nicole Jones-Cumberbatch, on building and renovation services; Paul DiBenedetto, on electric vehicles; and Jimmy Alty, on procurement.

The workshop will also provide an opportunity for attendees to connect with Business First Advocates and representatives from procurement and building and renovation services, offering direct access to support resources.

Long Island is home to more than 100,000 small businesses, according to the Long Island Association, underscoring their significance to the regional economy.

“We proudly share information about PSEG Long Island’s revitalization programs with all new businesses in our community,” Cheryl Fajardo, past president of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, said. “As a strong partner in local economic development, PSEG Long Island has played a vital role in helping us improve our downtown areas through beautification projects, infrastructure support and promotional efforts.”

Pre-registration is recommended by emailing PSEGLI-Businessfirst@psegliny.com.

Courtesy PSEG Long Island

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Soak in the sights with annual house tour

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

The Long Beach Historical Society will host their annual House Tour event later this month. The self-guided 1-mile tours will explore seven private, historic properties with preserved craftsmanship, from intricate architecture to unique décor.

The tours will begin at the historical society’s museum, 226 West Penn Street, at an assigned time. Tourists will receive a brochure about properties, ticket(s) and a map. Homeowners and other knowledgeable guides will be present.

Sue Friedman, a historical society board trustee, said it provides participants the opportunity to see how Long Beach evolved from an early 19th century resort destination into what it is today.

“People who go on the tour always leave wondering about these historic homes,” Friedman said. “Now is a chance to get a glimpse into each house.”

Roger Woo, whose house on Laurelton Boulevard was featured 10 years ago, will once again be featured this year. The house’s exterior follows a white stucco/red roof tiling combination, a design heavily favored by late Senator William H. Reynolds, who transformed the Barrier Islands in the early 1900s. The design is an ode to Mediterranean-style homes.

Woo and his wife, Irbi Sulit Woo, inherited the house from her parents — Abelardo and Asuncion Sulit. The home’s interior features original wood floors, stained glass windows, and crown molding from its construction in 1929. Aside from the kitchen’s slight remodeling, Woo has kept the

original style.

“I’ve tried very hard to maintain it,” Woo said. “I love the details of the house, and I have respect for the details and what Reynolds tried to instill here.”

The spectacle attracts dozens of participants each year like Bernadette Shouvlin. A Long Beach resident for five years, she toured last year and said the opportunity was nothing short of spectacular.

“The best house was Marty Doss’ on West Penn,” Shouvlin remarked, noting its Mediterranean style. “It had a beautiful exterior with two statues that looked like Greek muses.”

The house’s interior, she recalled, was decorated with a collection of antiques dating back to the 1920s. She said furniture like the tables, chairs and boxes made her appreciate people’s hard work in maintaining the historic artifacts.

“I love to see people’s lives and their history come alive,” Shouvlin said.

Multiple tours will be offered in time slots between 12 p.m. and 2:40 p.m., with all tours ending by 4:30 p.m.

Tour tickets for historical society members are priced at $40, while non-member tickets are $45. No children under 16 years old are permitted. Strollers, food, drink and pets are also not allowed on the home tour. For more information on registration, visit www.longbeachhistoricalsociety.org/tour-houses.

Richard Ross, left, and Tre Sincorra, took the opportunity to show the history of Long Beach acting as guides during last year’s house tour.

Friday, April 24: Rides 6 PM - 10 PM Saturday, April 25: Rides 11 AM - 9 PM Sunday, April 26: Rides 11 AM - 7 PM Vendors Sat. & Sun. 10 AM - 6 PM

Courtesy Sue Friedman

Brown was a longtime lifeguard and an active alum

for a year before spending another five years in the reserves.

In 2005, Brown founded Secure Access and Digital Systems, now on Park Avenue in Long Beach. The company provides access control, ID card systems, visitor management and CCTV to clients across the country, including the New York Stock Exchange, Madison Square Garden and the Sphere in Las Vegas.

“We also do the [Long Beach] beach

passes, and have government and hospital contracts,” Brown said.

When the Long Beach Lifeguard Alumni Association was founded in 2009, Brown became its treasurer. Over the past 17 years he has managed the growth of the organization’s funds from $600 to over $15,000. He oversees fundraisers and scholarships, often posting calls to action in the association’s newsletter, which reaches more than 600 former lifeguards.

Last year, Brown helped secure fund-

ing for flotation collars that will be added to the lifeguard patrol’s fleet of personal watercraft this summer.

Dan Michaelis, the association’s vice president, has known Brown since they were lifeguards together in 1976.

Michaels said there isn’t a retired lifeguard who doesn’t know the treasurer.

“Lynn has done a great job driving our fundraisers,” Michaelis said. “He’s been invaluable, using his business sense and contacts to help us and the community.”

Brown stepped away from the treasurer’s role on April 7, following the association’s recent election, but will remain active as a member of the association’s executive committee. In a statement, President Michael DeLury thanked him for his service.

“Lynn has been the association’s treasurer since its founding,” DeLury said. “He did a fantastic job managing a broad range of successful fundraising initiatives, and we look forward to whatever he’ll accomplish next.”

Continued from page 1

Courtesy Lynn Brown

Lynn Brown, middle row, third from right, looking to his left, was a member of the Long Beach Lifeguard patrol’s West and Central crews.

Rex Heuermann pleads guilty in Gilgo case

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Rex Heuermann admitted in Suffolk County Court last week to being the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and to murdering seven women whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway between 1993 and 2011.

Heuermann said on April 8 that he strangled Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman. He also admitted to killing Karen Vergata, who disappeared in 1996. Her remains were found later on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach.

“When Rex decided that he wanted to accept responsibility and didn’t want to proceed the trial, from a defense standpoint, we then pivoted and did our best to protect his interest,” Michael Brown, Heuermann’s attorney, said. “That included the fact that he’s going to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.”

Heuermann is expected to be sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of Barthelemy, Costello and Waterman. He is also expected to receive four consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for the killings of Brainard-Barnes, Costilla, Mack and Taylor. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

Brown stated that with this new plea, Heuermann will face no further prosecution.

Asa Ellerup, Heuermann’s ex wife, attended the hearing with their daughter, Victoria Heuermann, and attorney Robert Macedonio.

“Rex Heuermann, and Rex Heuermann alone, is responsible for these horrific crimes,” Macedonio

said. “Any suggestion that Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann were involved is irresponsible. They have no knowledge, no involvement or any connection to these heinous acts.”

“My thoughts are prayers are with the victims and their families,” Ellerup said. “Their loss is immeasurable, and the focus should be on them. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate this very difficult time.”

In January, Heuermann appeared before state Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, and his attorneys filed a 178-page omnibus motion seeking multiple forms of legal relief, including dismissal of a second-degree murder charge in the 1993 death of Costilla and a review of grand jury minutes.

He had previously pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys mounted a broad challenge to the prosecution’s case. At earlier court proceedings, the defense focused on disputing key forensic evidence, particularly DNA analysis that prosecutors said linked Heuermann to the victims.

Defense attorneys argued that the testing methods and conclusions should be closely examined, raising questions about how the evidence was collected and interpreted. They also challenged other elements of the investigation, signaling an effort to weaken the case and prepare for a potential trial.

Prosecutors maintained that the evidence was strong, citing DNA findings, cellphone data and years of investigative work that led to Heuermann’s arrest.

In September, Mazzei ruled that Heuermann would face one trial for all seven of the alleged murders.

Additional reporting by Carolyn James.

The victims of an admitted serial killer

Seven women were killed between 1993 and 2010. Their remains found near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway.

Rex Heuermann admitted to killing the following women:

Melissa Barthelemy — strangled July 10, 2009.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes — strangled July 9, 2007.

Amber Lynn Costello — strangled Sept. 2, 2010.

Sandra Costilla — strangled Nov. 19, 1993.

Valerie Mack — strangled and dismembered between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1, 2000.

Jessica Taylor — strangled and dismembered around July 23, 2003.

Megan Waterman — strangled June 6, 2010.

Heuermann also admitted to killing:

Karen Vergata — disappeared in 1996; remains found later on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach.

–Heuermann allocution

OUT

Destination: Outdoor escape Your backyard, reimagined

By Karen Bloom

Spring has surely sprung (at last) — and we’re very much attuned to Earth Month as we embrace the outdoors. It’s great get out and about and not feel so housebound, which leads many of us to rethink how we use our outdoor space. The season definitely invites us outside, offering a chance to reconnect with nature right at home and shape a backyard that works for everyday living.

Start by considering how your yard can better serve your household. Maybe you’re envisioning a space for easy entertaining, a safer play area for kids and pets, or simply a peaceful retreat to unwind. Increasingly, homeowners are embracing “backyarding” — bringing indoor comforts like dining, lounging and even workouts into the open air.

A little planning now can pay off all season long, with vibrant blooms, fresh herbs and a space that feels both functional and inviting.

“With the season’s first signs appearing, this is the time to prepare your garden for months of enjoyment,” garden design expert Fiona Jenkins says.

Here are her practical tips for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that doesn’t demand all your free time.

Keep It Manageable

When it comes to flower beds, smaller is often smarter. Narrow beds — about one to two feet wide — are easier to plant, maintain and keep looking tidy.

Limiting plant variety can also make a big difference. Sticking to a handful of dependable options helps you better handle their needs and simplifies care. Hardy perennials such as geraniums and peonies, along with evergreen shrubs, offer reliable color year after year without the need for constant replanting.

“Once established, these plants can provide lasting beauty with minimal effort,” Jenkins says. “Just be

sure you understand their watering, feeding and pruning needs before planting.”

Build A Strong Foundation

Healthy soil is the backbone of any successful garden. Investing in rich, organic soil — and refreshing it annually with compost — helps plants thrive while reducing the necessity of frequent watering and fertilizing.

Mulch is another essential. A layer of organic material such as bark, leaves or compost helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and keep weeds in check — all while improving soil quality over time.

“Mulching is a great way of protecting your soil and making it last longer by helping to maintain moisture levels and prevent weeds from growing,” she explains.

Add Structure With Hardscaping

Incorporating hard surfaces like decking, patios or walkways can transform a backyard into a more usable living space. These elements provide structure, define different zones and create natural gathering areas.

Composite decking remains a popular choice for its durability and low maintenance, while natural stone, concrete or porcelain pavers offer a clean, timeless look.

Thoughtful additions like built-in lighting can extend the use of your yard into the evening, adding both safety and ambiance.

For visual interest with minimal upkeep, consider a rock garden. Combining alpine plants or succulents with layered stones and pebbles creates texture and dimension — without demanding much attention.

Try Raised Beds

Raised beds are a practical solution for both flowers and vegetables. They help contain plant growth, improve drainage and make gardening more accessible. Whether placed over existing soil or integrated into a patio design, they also serve as attractive focal points.

“A raised flower bed will stop them from spreading out of control and add a focal point of interest to your garden,” Jenkins says.

Let Nature Take The Lead

For a softer, more natural look, consider embracing a slightly “wild” aesthetic. Swapping part of a traditional lawn for a meadow-style area can reduce maintenance while supporting pollinators.

“This isn’t to say you should let it grow completely out of control, but your garden can look beautiful with the aesthetic of a grassy meadow rather than an urban space,” she continues.

Scattering wildflower seeds introduces bursts of color and attracts bees and butterflies, creating a lively, ever-changing landscape that benefits the local ecosystem.

With thoughtful choices and a bit of early effort, your backyard can become one of your favorite places to spend time this season and throughout the year — a space that feels as welcoming and comfortable as any room inside your home.

Asbury Short Film Concert

The acclaimed national touring showcase returns with a curated showcase of standout short films — many seen by the local audience for the first time. Presented by Asbury Shorts, the New York City-based long-running short film exhibitor, the program highlights an eclectic mix, including film festival favorites and Oscar-recognized selections. The dynamic lineup spans genres, from sharp comedies like “The Tailor,” where culture and confusion collide on a Brooklyn street (pictured), to compelling dramas, inventive animation and occasional thoughtprovoking documentaries. This is a rare opportunity to experience these cinematic “hidden gems” in a true theater setting — films that often don’t reach traditional big screens. These shorts provide a window into emerging filmmakers alongside early works from directors who go on to achieve major acclaim.

Friday, April 17, 7 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.

Micky Dolenz

Micky Dolenz celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Monkees with a special tour honoring the band’s enduring legacy and timeless sound. In this nostalgic and high-spirited performance, Dolenz takes audiences on a musical journey through The Monkees’ rise to fame, performing their biggest hits in chronological order while sharing personal stories from his decades in entertainment — as he keeps the music alive for new generations As the last surviving member of the beloved group, Dolenz brings both heart and history to the stage, paying tribute to bandmates Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, while celebrating the fans who helped transform a fictional TV band into a global sensation. This is sure to be a heartfelt, hit-filled evening that blends music, memories and a lasting connection to one of pop culture’s most iconic acts.

Sunday, April 19, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Photos: Spring unfolds in your backyard, where patios, gardens and greenery set the stage to gather and unwind.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

APR 17

Family theater

It’s the final weekend for Long Island Children’s Museum staging of “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also April 19

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

APR 18

Shredding and Electronics

Recycling Day

Dispose of sensitive documents and electronic waste. Residents are encouraged to participate by lining up via Centre Street for both shredding and e-cycling services. The event is exclusively for Long Beach residents and proof of residency will be required. Participants may bring up to three file boxes of documents, including old bank statements, tax returns, credit card applications and outdated medical records to be safely shredded on the spot.. Laminated documents, hardcover books and plastic sleeves will not be accepted. Residents may also dispose of unwanted electronics including computers, monitors, tablets, televisions and any cables/ cords accompanying the electronic equipment.

• Where: City Hall, 1 West Chester St.

• Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 705-7417

‘Dog Days’ Weekend and Dog Festival

Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms. With a curated lineup of local pet and dog-focused vendors offering treats, accessories, services, and more — ust for your pup (and you!).

Once upon a time in the Bronx

Megan Hilty to the stage. Enjoy an intimate afternoon of music with her Grammy-nominated pianist and music director Matt Cusson.

• Where: Adelphi University

Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City

• Time: 3 p.m.

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or (516) 877-4000

APR

21

Long Beach City Council Meeting

The Long Beach City Council meets the first and third Tuesday monthly. “Good and Welfare,” an opportunity for the public to speak on any topic pertaining to the City, is held following each regular meeting. Those who wish to speak must sign in prior to the start of the meeting.

• Where: 6th Floor, City Hall

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 431-1000

APR

Spring Blood Drive

• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington .

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his electrifying solo performance of “A Bronx Tale,” the autobiographical one-man show that launched his remarkable career. Raw, riveting and deeply personal, the play draws on Palminteri’s own bruising childhood in the Bronx, including the moment — at just nine-years-old — when he witnessed a gangland killing that would forever shape his view of the world. Onstage, Palminteri inhabits 18 vividly drawn characters, seamlessly shifting between friends, foes and family members to conjure an entire neighborhood with nothing but his voice, physicality and storytelling prowess. First written and performed in 1989, A Bronx Tale quickly became a sensation, hailed as one of the most sought-after stage properties since Rocky. The original production paved the way for the acclaimed film adaptation — directed by Robert De Niro—and later a hit Broadway musical. Born and raised in the Bronx, Palminteri stands firmly in the lineage of iconic Italian-American artists who redefined New York storytelling in the 1970s, including Martin Scorsese, De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. Like them, he brings grit, muscle and an unflinching realism to his work, capturing both the violence and the humanity of life on those sidewalks. This return engagement offers audiences a chance to experience the original, powerhouse performance that started it all — up close, uncompromising and unforgettable.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., also April 19

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Jazzin’ with Kirk Whalum

The sax icon appears at the Madison Theatre. He blasts off with his highly-anticipated new album “Epic Cool.” an electrifying collection of original grooves. Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that’s passionate and spirited on a monumental scale, but with his trademark soul. Get ready to groove, because like his new album, Whalum is anything but ordinary.

• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

‘Romantic Rendezvous’

Old Westbury Gardens chamber ensemble in residence, Poetica Musica welcomes the season in the intimate and elegant Red Ballroom of Westbury House. Renowned pianists Javor Bracic and Angelina Gadeliya make their series debut, performing solo and duo piano

works by Chopin, Schubert, Fauré, Barber, and others.The program includes Sonata in A minor by Franz Schubert, Dolly Suite for piano four hands by Gabriel Fauré, Rondo, Op. 5 by Frédéric Chopin, Souvenirs for piano four hands by Samuel Barber, and Crimean Sketches for solo piano by Serhii Bortkiewicz. Advance ticket purchase required. A pre-concert talk will take place at 7:30 pm, followed by a reception after the concert on the West Porch. $30, $25 for members, seniors and students.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury

• Time: 8-9:30 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048

APR

19

S.T.O.P. Collection

The Town of Hempstead encourages residents to clean their homes of hazardous materials. Dispose of such toxic items as antifreeze, drain cleans, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, and oil-based paints at a S.T.O.P collection event.

• Where: Long Beach City Hall parking lot, Centre St.

• Time: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Contact: hempsteadny.gov/235/ accepted-not-accepted items or call (516) 378-4210

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

Spring Tea

The Long Beach Historical Society presents their annual Spring Tea. Festive hats and clothing are welcome. Tea and refreshments are served. Tickets are $45 per person and seating is limited.

• Where: 226 W. Penn St.

• Time: 1-4 p.m.

• Contact: longbeachhistoricalsciety.org or (516) 432-1192

Lido Beach Town Park Beach Cleanup

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) and the Town of Hempstead partner to host a community beach cleanup. Volunteers are able to sign up for a 1.5-hour time slot. Clean-up supplies are provided, but it is recommended to bring your own gloves. Registration is required.

• Where: Lido Beach Town Park., 630 Lido Blvd.

• Time: 9 a.m.-noon

• Contact: education@amseas.org

Megan Hilty in concert

Direct from her Tony-nominated performance as Madeline Ashton in Broadway’s “Death Becomes Her,” Adelphi welcomes Tony-, Grammy- and Critics Choice Award-nominated actor-singer

23

Blood donors are urgently needed. The City of Long Beach host a blood drive with New York Blood Center to support the local supply. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins will be permitted if capacity allows. Visit donate. nybc.org or call to schedule an appointment.

• Where: Magnolia Center, 2nd Floor, 650 Magnolia Blvd.

• Time: 2-8 p.m.

• Contact: (800) 933-2566

Having an event?

Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET

VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the proposed school district budget will be held on May 12, 2026 at 7:00 P.M. in the Lido Elementary Multipurpose Room, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, and can also be viewed remotely at tinyurl. com/proudtobeLB; for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machine at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the statement of the amount of money required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) exclusive of public monies may be obtained by any district resident beginning May 5, 2026, between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the Office of the District Clerk, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, at Long Beach Public Library, at 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, New York, and on the District’s internet website. A copy of the statement of the amount of money that will be required for the Library purposes exclusive of public money will be available at the Long Beach Public Library and the Library’s district clerk’s office for the year beginning July 1, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the school election districts indicated below, between the hours of 7:00AM and 9:00PM, prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To elect two members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, to fill the positions held by Dennis Ryan and Nora Bellsey, whose terms expire on June 30, 2026.

3. To elect one (1) trustee of the Long Beach Public Library for a five (5) year term commencing on July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, per resolution of the Board of Education adopted on February 8, 2022, this vote and election will be held at the following school election districts (the accurate description of the boundaries is on file and may be inspected at the Office of the District Clerk, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561):

LINDELL SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT

LINDELL SCHOOL GYMNASIUM 601 LINDELL BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by a line parallel to and sixty (60) feet westerly from Malone Avenue, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

EAST SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT

EAST SCHOOL

GYMNASIUM 456 NEPTUNE BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard, on the North by Reynolds Channel, East to the easterly bounding line

of the City of Long Beach, and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

LIDO/MS SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT

LONG BEACH MIDDLE

SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

LOBBY

239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK

This election district embraces the territory of the area known as Lido Beach, bounded on the West by a line commencing due east of the City of Long Beach, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the easterly boundary line of Point Lookout and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that petitions nominating candidates for Board of Education trustees and Library Board trustee are available from the Clerk of said School District at her office in the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, 11561. Nominating petitions must be filed with the Clerk of the School District not later than April 29, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Vacancies on both the Board of Education and the Library Board are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions for Board of Education trustee must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least 100 qualified voters of the District;

must state the name and residence of each signer; and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

PLEASE TAKE

FURTHER NOTICE that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots for the school district election are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the New York State Education Department’s Website (http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-english.pdf; http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-spanish. pdf), or by contacting the District Clerk by email or phone at sfamiletti@lbeach. org or 516-897-2108. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than April 20, 2026, and at least seven (7) days before the election, May 12, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, May 18, 2026, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

A list of persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who is not registered under permanent personal registration on or before January 1, 2018, or supplemental registration lists

furnished by the Nassau County Board of Elections, or has not voted at an intervening school district election, must present himself or herself personally for registration in order to be entitled to vote on May 5, 2026 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm; at Long Beach Middle School Auditorium Lobby, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who has moved from one school election district in the Long Beach City School District to another, and who has not registered in the new school election district, and who is still registered in the district from which he or she moved, may vote in the election district in which he or she registered. Such people must advise, at the time of voting, the election inspectors of his/her new address to correct such registration.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that only those qualified voters whose names appear on the registers prepared for said school district election will be entitled to vote on Election Day. The register will be filed in the District Clerk’s Office and open to inspection by any qualified voter of the school district from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. on weekdays from May 5, 2026 to May 19, 2026, and Saturday May 9, 2026, when it will be available from 9 A.M. to 12 noon by appointment only.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district.

An application for registration as a military voter can be requested by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (516) 897-2108, facsimile (516) 771-3944, email sfamiletti@lbeach. org, mail to 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, or in person (during regular office hours or between the hours of 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM); the application for registration must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail,

facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot by requesting an application form from the District Clerk; in order to receive a military ballot, the military ballot application must be received no later than 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot applications and military ballots must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than May 5, 2026. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

A list of persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the

Board of Education in accordance with Section 2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561, in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election required by Section 2004 of the Education Law or on or before April 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

Dated: Lido Beach, New York, March 10, 2026

By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Lido Beach, New York Susannah Familetti, District Clerk 159398

LEGAL NOTICE NOTIFICACION DE AUDIENCIA PUBLICA, VOTACION DEL PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCION DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto propuesto del distrito escolar el 12 de Mayo del 2026 a las 7:00 P.M. en el Salón de Usos Múltiples de la Escuela Primaria Lido, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, el cual también podrá verse remotamente siguiendo el enlace tinyurl.com/ proudtobeLB;

para la transacción de negocios según lo autoriza la Ley de Educación, incluyendo los siguientes artículos:

1. Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fiscal 2026-2027.

2. Discutir todos los artículos aquí enumerados a continuación, que serán tabulados utilizando máquina automática durante la Votación del presupuesto y Elección que se llevará a cabo el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026.

3. Para la transacción de dichos y otros negocios que puedan presentarse antes de la reunión de conformidad a la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y actos de enmiendas aplicables.

ADEMAS POR FAVOR TOME NOTA de que cualquier residente del distrito puede obtener una copia del estado de cuenta de la cantidad de dinero requerida para fines escolares del año siguiente (presupuesto escolar), excluyendo fondos públicos, a partir del 5 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, excepto los sábados, los domingos o días festivos, en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, asi como también en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach, ubicada en el 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, Nueva York, y en la página digital del Distrito. Una copia del estado de cuentas detallando la cantidad de dinero requerido, propuesta destinada para la Biblioteca, la cual excluye el dinero público, estará disponible en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach y en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito para el año que comienza el 1 de Julio del 2026.

Y SE DA NOTIFICACION ADICIONAL de que dicho Voto del Presupuesto y Elección se llevarán a cabo el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026 en los distritos electorales escolares indicados a continuación, entre las 7:00 A.M. y las 9:00 P.M., hora vigente, periodo durante el cual las urnas se abrirán para votar mediante máquina de votación sobre los siguientes artículos:

Public Notices

1. Para adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 2026-2027 y para autorizar que la porción requerida para ser se recaudada a través de impuestos sobre la propiedad incluida en el Distrito.

2. Para elegir a dos miembros de la Junta de Educación por un término de tres (3) años comenzando el 1 de Julio del 2026 y expirando el 30 de Junio del 2029, para llenar las posiciones mantenidas por Dennis Ryan y Nora Bellsey, cuyos términos expiran el 30 de Junio del 2026.

3. Para elegir a un (1) miembro del Consejo de la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach por un término de cinco (5) años comenzando el 1 de Julio del 2026 y finalizando el 30 de Junio del 2031.

ADEMAS POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA de que, según la resolución de la Junta de Educación adoptada el 8 de Febrero del 2022, este voto y elección tendrá lugar en los siguientes distritos electorales escolares (la descripción precisa de las zonas está en el archivo y puede ser inspeccionada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561):

DISTRITO ELECTORAL

ESCOLAR DE LINDELL

GIMNASIO DE LA ESCUELA LINDELL 601 LINDELL

BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por una línea paralela y sesenta (60) pies al oeste desde Malone Avenue, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL

ESCOLAR ESTE GIMNASIO DE LA ESCUELA ESTE 456 NEPTUNE BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este con la línea delimitante este de la ciudad de Long Beach y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR DE LIDO/ ESCUELA MEDIA VESTÍBULO DEL AUDITORIO DE LA ESCUELA MEDIA LONG BEACH 239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NUEVA YORK

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio de la zona conocida como Lido Beach, delimitado al oeste por una línea que comienza justo al este de la ciudad de Long Beach, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este por la línea límite este de Point Lookout y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

Y SE AVISA ADICIONALMENTE de que, de conformidad a la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria Real, el Distrito Escolar está obligado a adjuntar a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor total determinado de la evaluación final será utilizado en el proceso presupuestario para la está exención de impuestos, listará todos los tipos de exención concedidas por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, la cantidad acumulada que se espera recibir como pagos en lugar de impuestos (PILOT) y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas. Adicionalmente, dicha exención deberá publicarse en cualquier tablón de anuncios mantenido por el Distrito para los avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio de internet gestionado por el Distrito.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que las peticiones que nominan candidatos para fideicomisarios de la Junta de Educación y de la Junta de la Biblioteca están disponibles por parte del Secretario de dicho distrito escolar en su oficina ubicada en el Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, 11561. Las peticiones de nominación deben ser completadas ante el Secretario del Distrito Escolar a más tardar el 29 de Abril del 2026, entre las 9:00 A.M. y las 5:00 P.M., hora vigente. Las posiciones

desocupadas tanto en la Junta de Educación como en la Junta de la Biblioteca no son consideradas oficinas separadas o específicas; los candidatos se nominan de manera general. Las peticiones de nominación para fideicomisario de la Junta de Educación deben dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito, deben ser firmadas como mínimo por 100 votantes calificados del Distrito; deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante; y deben indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que las solicitudes de papeletas para votar anticipadamente por correo y votación en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar deben completarse en un formulario pre-escrito por la Junta Electoral Estatal y pueden obtenerse visitando la página web del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York (http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-english.pdf; http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-spanish. pdf), o contactando con el Secretario del Distrito por correo electrónico o teléfono en el sfamiletti@lbeach.org ó 516-897-2108. Las aplicaciones completas deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes del 20 de Abril del 2026 y al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección, el 12 de Mayo del 2026, si la papeleta debe ser enviada al votante por correo, o el día antes de la elección, el 18 de Mayo del 2026, si la papeleta debe ser entregada personalmente al votante. Las papeletas para votar por correo deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 P.M., hora vigente, del Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026.

Una lista de las personas a quienes se emitan papeletas de voto anticipado por correo y por ausencia estará disponible para ser inspeccionada por votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 14 de Mayo del 2026,

entre las 8:00 A.M. y a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, en cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto los Domingos, y el 19 de Mayo del 2026, el día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado que esté presente en el distrito electoral podrá objetar la votación de la papeleta en base apropiada, haciendo pública su impugnación y sus motivos al Inspector de la Elección antes del cierre de las urnas. No se puede impugnar una papeleta por correo porque el votante debería haber solicitado un voto anticipado por correo.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que cualquier persona que no esté registrada bajo registro personal permanente a partir del 1 de Enero del 2018, o en los listados suplementarios de registro proporcionados por la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau, o que no haya votado en o intervenido en una elección de distrito escolar, debe presentarse personalmente para registrarse para poder votar 5 de Mayo del 2026 de 2:00 P.M. a 8:00 P.M.; en el vestíbulo del auditorio de la Escuela Media Long Beach, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que cualquier persona que se haya trasladado de un distrito electoral escolar en el Distrito Escolar de la ciudad de Long Beach a otro, y que no se haya registrado en el nuevo distrito electoral escolar y quien siga registrado en el distrito del que se trasladó, podrá votar en el distrito electoral en el que está registrado. Dichas personas deben informar, en el momento de votar, a los inspectores electorales de su nueva dirección para que corrijan dicho registro.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que solo aquellos votantes calificados cuyos nombres aparezcan en los registros preparados para dicha elección del distrito escolar tendrán derecho a votar el día de las elecciones. El registro se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del distrito

escolar de 8:00 A.M. a 4:00 P.M. los días laborables del 5 al 19 de Mayo del 2026, y el Sábado 9 de Mayo del 2026, cuando estará disponible de 9:00 A.M. a 12:00 P.M. solo con cita previa.

Y ADICIONALMENTE SE DA AVISO, de que los votantes militares quienes no esten inscritos actualmente pueden aplicar para registrarse como votante calificado en el distrito escolar. La solicitud de registro como votante militar puede solicitarse contactando con el Secretario del Distrito por teléfono (516) 897-2108, fax (516) 771-3944, correo electrónico sfamiletti@ lbeach.org, correo a 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, o en persona (durante el horario habitual de oficina o entre las 8:15 A.M. y las 4:00 P.M.); la solicitud de registro debe recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 P.M. el 4 de Mayo del 2026. En la solicitud de registro, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito pueden presentar una solicitud para una papeleta militar solicitando un formulario de solicitud al Secretario del Distrito; para recibir una papeleta militar, la solicitud debe recibirse a más tardar a las 5:00 P.M. del 4 de Mayo del 2026. En la solicitud de una papeleta militar, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de una papeleta militar y la papeleta militar, por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico. Todas las solicitudes de voto de votantes militares calificados y las papeletas militares deben ser devueltas por correo o en persona. Las papeletas para votantes militares se distribuirán a los votantes militares cualificados a más tardar el 5 de Mayo del 2026. Las papeletas militares deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito (1) antes del cierre de las urnas, el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026, y deben mostrar una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de Estados Unidos o del Servicio Postal de un

país extranjero, o deben mostrar un acuse de recibo fechado por otra Agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) no más tarde de las 5:00 P.M. del día de la elección y ser firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha fijada que no sea posterior del día anterior de la elección.

Una lista de personas a quienes se emiten papeletas militares estará disponible para su inspección para los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 14 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, en cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto el Domingo, y el 19 de Mayo del 2026, del día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado presente en el lugar de votación podrá oponerse a la votación de la papeleta por motivos apropiados, haciendo pública su impugnación y los motivos al Inspector de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas.

Y SE DA UN AVISO ADICIONAL de que, conforme a una norma adoptada por la de Educación de acuerdo con la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referendo o propuesta para enmendar el presupuesto, que sea sometida a votación en dicha elección, deberá ser presentada ante el Secretario de la Junta de Educación en la Oficina del Distrito, Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561, con suficiente tiempo para permitir que la notificación de la propuesta se incluya con la Notificación de la Audiencia Pública, Votación de Presupuesto y Elección requerida por la Sección 2004 de la Ley de Educación o antes del 20 de Abril del 2026 a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente; debe estar mecanografiada o impresa en el lenguaje Inglés; debe ser dirigida al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe estar firmada por como mínimo 25 votantes calificados del Distrito; y debe indicar legiblemente el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no aceptará ninguna petición para presentar ante los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo

propósito no esté dentro de las competencias de los votantes para determinar que sea ilegal, ni ninguna propuesta que no incluya una asignación específica cuando la propuesta requiera el gasto de fondos, o cuando exista otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la papeleta.

Fechado: Lido Beach, Nueva York, 10 de Marzo del 2026

Por orden de la JUNTA DE EDUCACION

DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Lido Beach, Nueva York

Susannah Familetti, Secretario del Distrito 159400

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, -againstROGER M. SARMUKSNIS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 4, 2026, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and ROGER M. SARMUKSNIS, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on May 6, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 629 WEST BEECH STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-015-36. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 601945/2023. Jeffrey Toback, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 159293

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE CO-OP APARTMENT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, JOHN ROMAN, Auctioneer, MICHAEL CAMPBELL, Auctioneer, RICHARD J. CANTWELL, Auctioneer, or RICHIE SCHULTZ, Auctioneer will sell at public auction with reserve to the highest bidder, on the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 29, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., security consisting of 580 shares of NEPTUNE TOWERS COOPERATIVE, INC., in the name of PAUL GILGANNON, and all right, title and interest in and to a Proprietary Lease for Cooperative, located in a building known as and by the street address 25 NEPTUNE BOULEVARD, UNIT 4F, LONG BEACH, NEW YORK 11561, between PAUL GILGANNON as Lessee, NEPTUNE TOWERS COOPERATIVE, INC., as Lessor. This sale is held to satisfy an indebtedness of the unpaid principal balance, interest, attorney fees, and advances through April 29, 2026, and to enforce the rights of the U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR PRET 2024-RPL2 TRUST, the “Secured Party”, arising under a Security Agreement dated February 13, 2017, executed by and between PAUL GILGANNON and

— April 16, 2026

Free e-cycling collection and pollutant disposal

By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

Ahead of celebrating Earth Day, residents are invited to City Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 18 for an opportunity to recycle, or e-cycle, unwanted electronic devices and paper documents at a communal drop-off.

Get rid of electronics such as computers, monitors, tablets, televisions and any cables/cords accompanying the electronic equipment. Note: This does not entail separately destroying data on devices. Cell phones and microwave ovens will not be accepted.

To help cut down on paper waste, secure document shredding will also be available. Participants may bring up to three file boxes of documents including old bank statements, tax returns, credit card applications and outdated medical records which will be safely shredded on the spot. Please remove all paperclips, staples and other bindings. Laminated documents, hardcover books and plastic sleeves will not be accepted.

The free event will take place rain or shine and is intended for Long Beach

residents only — proof of residency will be required. Cars should line up along Center Street and make way toward City

Public Notices

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. The Secured Party reserves the right to bid. The Co-op Apartment will be sold “AS IS”, subject to open common charges, and possession is to be obtained by the purchaser.

DATED: March 31, 2026 Knuckles & Manfro, LLP

Attorneys for SECURED PARTY 120 White Plains Road Suite 215 Tarrytown, NY 10591 (914) 345-3020 159544

at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE

Supplemental Summons Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County. U.S.

BANK TRUST

NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF LB-FLAT SERIES VI TRUST, Plaintiff -againstUNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE

ESTATE OF JEAN

AVIDON; ILENE J. CLAUDE A/K/A ILENE J. AVIDON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN

AVIDON; LISA SCHLICH

/K/A LISA AVIDON

A/K/A LISA H. O`HARA, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE

ESTATE OF HARVEY AVIDON; DANIELLE C. LEMIEUX A/K/A DANIELLE CMAYLO

A/K/A DANIELLE C. PAPPAS, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PETER A. PAPPAS; JOSHUA A. CMAYLO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PETER A. PAPPAS; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; BOARD OF MANAGERS OF LIDO BEACH TOWERS CONDOMINIUM; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of the premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants Index No. 621005/2025.

Mortgaged Premises: 2 Richmond Road, Unit #3HH Lido Beach, NY 11561 a/k/a 2 Richmond Road, Unit 234 Lido Beach, NY 11561 Section: 59 Block: 66 Lot: 15A Unit: 234 a/k/a Unit #3HH and Section: 59 Block: 66 Lot: 15B TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of

your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF

SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a reverse mortgage to secure $915,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on October 23, 2009, in Liber Book M 34296, on Page 500, covering the premises known as 2 Richmond Road, Unit #3HH, Lido Beach, NY 11561 a/k/a 2 Richmond Road, Unit 234, Lido Beach, NY 11561. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the reverse

mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located.NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 159546

Throwing Out Pollutants program — S.T.O.P. — will take place, in cooperation with the Town of Hempstead, behind City Hall from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents will have a safe, environmentally sound method to dispose of the many hazardous materials found in most homes.

Hall. Visit longbeachny.gov/recyclingday for more information.

The following day, April 19, the Stop

Batteries, light bulbs, paint cans, propane tanks, bleach, antifreeze and fertilizer are some of the most common problematic items that cannot and should not be simply thrown in the regular daily garbage or poured down the drain. To make the disposal process faster and more efficient, wrap any leaking containers in newspaper and place them in a plastic bag or larger container and make sure all lids are secured tightly. Do not leave products in a hot, unventilated vehicle for any length of time. And avoid smoking near chemical products. By bringing potential pollutants to a S.T.O.P. collection, families can make a significant impact on protecting the groundwater supply and the preservation of the waterways. Visit longbeachny.gov/stop for more information.

News brief

Members of Brownie Troop 2170 spread out across Masone Beach in Island Park, collecting litter during a cleanup that helped them earn their Beach Awareness badge.

Little helpers take big steps to clean beach

Second graders in Brownie Troop 2170 spent an afternoon turning lessons in environmental stewardship into hands-on action at Masone Beach.

On March 27, the troop gathered at the waterfront park for its second annual cleanup and beach awareness event. The effort helped the girls earn their Beach Awareness badge.

The program began with a talk from a local lifeguard, who spoke to the troop about beach safety and environmental responsibility. The girls then set out across the sand and nearby playground.

“The beach was dirty,” said Angelina Plant, 8. “The cleanup takes probably an hour or two.”

“It was dirty,” said Luna Rodriguez, 7. “I cleaned up a baby’s diaper.”

“Animals can choke on stuff or die from the garbage,” Plant said of why the

cleanup is important.

After the cleanup, the troop decorated shells with positive messages. The shells were later scattered around the beach to spread encouragement and raise awareness among visitors.

The Masone Beach cleanup is part of a broader commitment to service by Troop 2170. This year, the group has volunteered at the Long Beach Soup Kitchen, explored nature trails in Oceanside and packaged gifts with the St. Nick Foundation at the Inn.

For many of the girls, the beach cleanup has quickly become a favorite tradition. Rodriguez hopes the tradition continues for years to come.

“If we keep doing it, it will get cleaner and cleaner as we go,” she said.

Courtesy City of Long Beach

Assistant Sanitation Superintendent Jamel Taylor, left, and Sanitation Supervisor/ Inspector Rasheen Albright, right, showcased the collection bins that are ever-present outside Sanitation Headquarters on West Pine Street.

–Abigail Grieco

Courtesy Maureen Fitzgerald

to Market

How much extra money does a home cost these days? Part 2

Q. I saw a billboard and several TV commercials for something called “Let Them Build, NY” and was wondering what you could tell me about it. The commercial said that there is an extra $82,000 spent on housing, per home, just due to government red tape. Is this true, and is anything being done about it?

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A. As I continue to answer this delicate and complicated question, I have to respond to people who called this column, over the years, just an advertisement. I’ve received criticism and pushback for nearly four decades because I’ve pointed out where changes needed to happen, in a constructive manner. Instead of causing positive change, I saw projects delayed, passive-aggressive behavior and extra tasks thrown at me that weren’t required by others. It hasn’t been easy, and this is hopefully a forum for positive reflection on how to improve our lives, not just criticism. I will never just complain about a problem without stating that there is a solution.

The cost of building has gone up. It should be understood by all that building safety requirements should never be ignored. The problem with cost increases is that delays, due to issues that have nothing to do with safety, are a part of the problem, not the solution.

For example, the average project starts out with research. There are many issues that must be addressed, from environmental conditions, such as ground water levels, to parking and zoning use, structural conditions and fire safety. Local government archives information about each property, yet when it comes time to request the records, many have stumbling blocks, such as Freedom of Information Law, or FOIL, requests that can sometimes take weeks. Then, when you get the information, it is often inaccurate sketches.

Local government expects very detailed information from professionals, to fix the information problems of the past, yet often provides inaccurate plans that hardly reflect the building. This is because as-built drawings and final surveys were neither required nor enforced. A new home has always been required to have an accurate final survey from a licensed surveyor for the initial certificate of occupancy, but the surveys in municipal records are often inaccurate sketch diagrams made by the developer, a contractor or expeditor, not a licensed professional (as was also always required). Those “plot” plans often say “prop. dwelling” (proposed) with completely useless, inaccurate information. So, after waiting, in some cases, weeks just to see the records, what you get is just a waste of time and money. Might as well hire the surveyor at the outset, something many customers are reluctant to spend for.

The playing field is definitely not level. Government should require of itself the same standards it forces on the public. Imagine getting valuable data without delays, right at the beginning of a project, instead of waiting weeks for the answer that there are no records. Experienced developers already know to hire the surveyor, do the testing, do the zoning analysis, etc.

© 2026 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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The REVIVE Act is a wolf dressed as housing reform

The REVIVE Act is being sold as housing reform, but it could become the law that quietly changes suburban Long Island before many residents even realize what happened. Wrapped in language about revitalization, vacant property and affordability, this bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a measure that appears reasonable on the surface while giving Albany Democrats new power to override local decision making, weaken community review, and force suburban communities into a model many residents never asked for.

The act has not yet become law, but Long Islanders should understand what is in it. Albany Democrats present it as a housing solution, but the deeper reality is political: If they can force more housing into suburban communities, they believe they can slowly change the makeup, character and, ultimately, the voting patterns of places that have long resisted their agenda.

As ranking member of the Assembly’s Local Governments Committee, and after more than five decades in the construction industry, I see exactly what happens when decisions are made by

people who never have to live with the consequences.

Business districts are built deliberately. Stores, offices, restaurants and surrounding neighborhoods function together because local boards spend years carefully managing them. A healthy downtown supports the tax base that funds local services, police protection, sanitation, roads and municipal government.

i

If business districts begin converting into residential projects whenever vacancies appear, communities lose taxable revenue, business activity and commercial identity. Once a district begins shifting away from retail, it rarely comes back.

revenue while still carrying the same infrastructure burden, and homeowners are left carrying more of the cost.

Under the proposed law, if a commercial property is 50 percent vacant for a year, the state would open the door to residential conversion. One year is nothing in commercial real estate, yet one difficult year could permanently change a property and neighborhood that took decades to shape.

t sounds practical and moderate, but its long-term effects would be anything but.

Long Islanders should understand what this means in practice. Parking lots that support downtown merchants and customers can suddenly become targets for dense multifamily housing. A lot that serves local businesses today can become a large apartment project tomorrow, overwhelming infrastructure while weakening the very business district it once supported.

In some communities, tax-exempt institutions — religious, educational or otherwise — continue expanding into commercial corridors. When tax-exempt uses steadily replace taxable commercial property, local governments lose

The law would go further. If a municipality doesn’t complete a review of a project of less than 150 units within 60 days, the project would automatically be approved. That would mean drainage, sewer capacity, traffic, parking and emergency access could all be pushed aside under an artificial deadline created by Albany Democrats who wouldn’t live with the consequences.

The bill would also limit parking to one space per dwelling unit. But families often have two or three cars. Streets weren’t designed to absorb endless overflow parking from dense development.

Design hearings could still take place, but they would nonbinding. On Long Island, boards of architectural review decide what signage, awnings, storefront designs and building appearances fit a community. Without that authority, downtown character quickly

deteriorates. Anyone who has seen parts of Brooklyn knows what happens: outlandish signage and a complete free-forall that overwhelms the character of a street and strips away local identity.

Many suburban Democrats sound independent when they’re home on Long Island. Their votes tell a different story. Their leadership is driven overwhelmingly by New York City priorities. Again and again, what helps the city comes first, even when Long Island communities pay the price.

The state budget proves it year after year: top-heavy spending tilted toward the city, urban priorities funded by suburban taxpayers, and less local control. The REVIVE Act follows that same pattern. It was written to sound practical and moderate, but its long-term effect is to take more control away from local communities.

Too many elected Long Island Democrats sound suburban when they’re home in their districts, but when votes are called, they follow Albany Democrats increasingly influenced by voices openly hostile to suburban priorities, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. We Long Islanders put politics aside when Long Island itself is at stake, and we won’t stand by while bills like this threaten to erode our suburban way of life by putting the equivalent of a skyscraper in our backyards.

Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District.

Let’s strengthen protections for domestic violence victims

New York had almost 90,000 reported victims of domestic violence in 2022 alone. What makes this statistic most troubling is that domestic violence often goes unreported, as does the harm. Whether the victim is protecting their abuser out of fear of retaliation, economic or emotional dependency, denial or shame, abusers continue to exploit and further victimize survivors.

Abusers can be creative in finding ways to manipulate and control their victims. We need to provide tools to victims, victims’ advocates and law enforcement to ensure that survivors of domestic violence get the support they need and perpetrators are held accountable.

That’s why I have introduced a legislative package to increase support for victims, including bills I carry with Assemblyman Ari Brown that would help strengthen our services for those victims, and close loopholes in the law that

allow predators to control their domestic partners by threating their pets.

More than one-third of domestic violence survivors suffer head, neck or facial injuries. Nonetheless, one study found that although 65 percent of victims of intimate partner violence reported having lost consciousness or experiencing a period of being dazed and confused, only 35 percent sought medical treatment. In some cases, a victim may opt not to seek care on their own to protect their abuser, or their abuser may prevent them from seeking care.

They are often overlooked, despite the increased focus on traumatic brain injuries.

As a result, victims of such violence are especially vulnerable to undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries. While there has rightfully been an increased focus on TBI among athletes, military personnel and seniors who fall, domestic violence victims are typically overlooked. The state Department of Health has taken steps to address this issue, such as alerting health care providers to this connection, but there is still more to be done.

For instance, the state’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program includes a variety of state departments and offices that can

offer unique insights into how their mission intersects with challenges related to TBI, and these agencies also have their commissioner or a designee on the Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council. However, the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence does not have a seat on the council, and has no role in the TBI Program. One of my bills would correct that oversight and ensure the office’s inclusion in shaping policies and training to mitigate the epidemic of TBI among survivors of domestic violence.

Another oversight in our laws deals with the crime of coercion and the use of coercive control, whereby an abuser controls their victim through the use of threats, pressure, shame or other manipulative tactics. While New York has a criminal penalty for coercion, which includes using the threat of physical harm or damage to property, it does not include threats against pets. This critical gap in the law is especially concerning given that roughly 70 percent of pet owners entering domestic violence shelters report that their abuser threatened,

injured or killed a family pet. Additionally, 90 percent of animal abuse incidents committed by perpetrators of domestic violence are done in the presence of their victims to exert control or revenge. That’s why I have introduced a bill to include threats to harm animals in the crime of coercion.

Domestic violence is a blight that is as complex as it is ever-changing, because technology offers opportunities for abusers to exert even more control over their victims’ lives. While we may never be able to achieve a world in which this horrific crime is nonexistent, we must commit to continuously examining our laws to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent it and to provide critical services to those in need.

Other legislative improvements I am exploring with other lawmakers include a bill I introduced to create a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders, and one I cosponsor to allow orders of protection to include prohibiting an abuser from having contact with a shared pet. Lawmakers must be diligent in our efforts, and comprehensive in our proposals, to protect women and all victims of domestic violence.

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.

Fax: (516) 569-4942

LIRR riders, put on your damn headphones

there is an unwritten contract that comes with riding on the Long Island Rail Road. You buy your ticket, you find your seat and you agree — implicitly, silently, without anyone asking you to sign anything — to share a small, enclosed space with strangers for the duration of your journey. It’s not always comfortable. It’s rarely glamorous. But it works, because most people understand that shared spaces require a certain baseline of consideration for the people around you.

That contract is being violated, every day, by people who can’t be bothered to use headphones. This lack of common decency is getting worse. Perhaps it signals the erosion of pre-pandemic norms, or the proliferation of short-form video content that simply must be consumed the moment it appears. But the reason doesn’t matter. The result is the same: a train car held captive by one person’s indifference.

You know what I’m talking about. The commuter who has his phone propped against his coffee cup, watching a video at full volume like he’s in his living room — a living room, apparently, with very thick walls or no neighbors. The guy on his Bluetooth speaker. Yes, a Bluetooth. On a train. In public. Among other humans.

What is so urgent that it cannot wait — or at minimum, be routed through a pair of earbuds? If you’re going to subject your fellow passengers to unsolicit-

letters

Turning our backs on nuclear power will cost us

To the Editor:

ed audio, the least you can do is make it enriching. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” A Pulitzer Prize-winner on Audible. Perhaps a documentary about the migratory patterns of the Arctic tern. Something that, when the woman across the aisle glances up from her book, she might think, “Well, I didn’t ask for this, but I’ll learn something today.”

Instead, what Long Island commuters are treated to after a long day of work is a TikTok of someone attempting to fit way too many cherry tomatoes in their mouth. Or a Twitch stream of a man dropping words that would make a sailor take notes. Or, my personal favorite, a FaceTime call conducted at a volume that suggests the party on the other end is located not in Queens but in Uzbekistan.

The headphone — wireless, wired, over-ear, in-ear, take your pick — is sold at every price point from reasonable to why-does-this-cost-more-than-my-firstcar, and is one of the great inventions of the modern age precisely because it solved this problem. It lets each of us live inside our own sonic world without inflicting it on everyone else. The technology is cheap, ubiquitous, and works perfectly well even when moving at 60 miles per hour.

And before anyone reaches for the ready-made excuse, “My AirPods died” is not quite the sympathetic defense it might seem. Yes, it’s mildly inconvenient to sit for 40 minutes without being

Karl Grossman’s op-ed critique of New York’s zeroemission credit program, “Nuclear power for $33 billion, and guess who’s paying?” (April 2-8) mischaracterizes both the program’s purpose and its value. The figure he cites is designed to alarm, but stripped of context, it obscures a central truth: New York is not subsidizing failure — it is investing in reliability, climate compliance and economic stability.

In 2016, the state Public Service Commission established zero-emissions credits as part of its Clean Energy Standard to preserve existing nuclear generation, the single largest source of zero-emission electricity in the state. At the time, upstate nuclear plants were at risk of premature closure due to distorted wholesale markets. The commission found that losing those facilities would result in “significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions,” higher capacity costs and immediate reliability risks.

Federal courts agreed. In 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld New York’s ZEC program, finding it lawful and consistent with federal energy policy. The court rejected claims that ZECs distorted markets, affirming that states retain

able to catch up on the latest episode of “Love Is Blind.” We understand. We feel for you. But that inconvenience — yours, private, manageable — pales significantly when compared with forcing the occupants of an entire train car to listen to it with you.

Charge your headphones. Toss a wired pair in your bag. The bar here is low, but it’s still worth clearing.

Long Island commuters are not a fragile lot. Anyone who has navigated Penn Station at rush hour or waited half an hour for a delayed train on an unsheltered platform in January has developed a certain resilience. We don’t need silence. We don’t need perfection. Trains are noisy — the screech of the rails, the hiss of the doors, the conductor calling out “Jamaica next!” in a voice that carries to the next car. That’s the deal. That’s ambient. That’s fine.

What isn’t fine is being forced to listen to someone else’s choice of entertainment, which, based on available evidence, is made with absolutely no one else in mind.

So here’s a modest proposal: bring your headphones, and use them. The train is a community — a rolling slice of Long Island life, hurtling toward work or home. Communities are at their best when their members extend small courtesies to one another.

And, if you absolutely must share your audio with the world, at the very minimum, make it Bach.

authority to value environmental attributes of generation. As the court noted, “States are not preempted from encouraging production of clean energy.”

Nuclear power supplies roughly 20 percent of New York’s electricity and more than 40 percent of its carbon-free generation. Without it, emissions would spike dramatically, undoing years of progress under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. As New York’s independent system operator has repeatedly warned, premature retirements of dispatchable resources, espe -

Why expanding child care on Long Island is so difficult

Across Long Island, families are struggling to find reliable child care. Waiting lists are growing, educators are stretched thin and communities continue to ask the same question: Why can’t we simply open more child care programs?

As an early-childhood educator and a small-business owner on Long Island, I see this challenge from both sides — as someone serving families in need of care, and as someone actively working to expand child care in our community.

Many people assume that the primary barriers to opening new programs are licensing requirements, zoning regulations or finding appropriate space. These are certainly significant hurdles. Child care providers must meet strict safety regulations, navigate local zoning rules and secure properties that meet both municipal and state requirements.

But what often goes unrecognized is what happens after those hurdles are cleared.

In some cases, providers manage to secure the property, obtain the necessary approvals and design programs that expand the number of available

spots for families with children. The plans are approved. The need in the community is clear.

Yet even at that stage, expansion can stall because of one remaining obstacle: access to capital.

Child care programs are small businesses that operate with extremely tight margins. Unlike many other industries, the cost of delivering quality care — staffing, safety requirements, training, compliance and maintaining appropriate childto-staff ratios — leaves little room for financial flexibility. At the same time, many lending institutions continue to view child care as a high-risk investment.

Ters must manage both the expense of running a small business and the rising cost of maintaining a home.

Utility costs alone can be substantial when caring for children in a program that operates for long hours each day. Heating, electricity, water, sanitation, food preparation and cleaning requirements all contribute to increased operational costs. These aren’t optional expenses; they are essential components of maintaining a safe, healthy environment for children.

he cost of delivering quality care leaves little room for financial flexibility.

The result is a troubling disconnect. Communities are asking for more child care options, providers are ready to expand, and projects may already have the proper approvals in place, but financing remains out of reach.

On Long Island, this challenge is compounded by the broader affordability crisis. The cost of operating any small business here continues to rise.

Property costs, insurance, utilities, food, supplies and maintenance expenses have increased significantly in recent years. For home-based child care providers, the financial pressures can be even more complex. Many programs operate in residential homes, meaning provid-

LeTTers

cially nuclear, pose “significant reliability challenges,” particularly as electrification increases demand.

Critics often invoke plant age as a proxy for danger. That is misleading. Nuclear facilities are regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission under one of the most stringent safety regimes in the world. License extensions are granted only after exhaustive review of materials, systems and operational performance. Comparing a nuclear plant to a “57-year-old car” may be rhetorically effective, but it is technically unserious. Nuclear facilities are continually upgraded with the latest technology, which is often mandated by the commission.

The economic argument also collapses under scrutiny. ZECs are not a “bailout”; they are a market correction. Fossil fuel generation benefits from decades of embedded subsidies and does not pay for its environmental externalities. ZECs attempt to internalize those costs, something economists across the spectrum have long advocated. As former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has stated, “Retaining existing nuclear plants is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent carbon emissions.”

As well, these facilities support thousands of high-skilled, union jobs that cannot be quickly or easily replaced. More important, they anchor local economies across upstate New York. Abrupt closures

At the same time, providers must invest in staff wages, professional development, educational materials and regulatory compliance. These costs are necessary to ensure quality care, but they also make it more difficult for programs to accumulate the capital needed to grow. When providers attempt to secure financing to expand services, many encounter lending systems that aren’t designed with childhood programs in mind. Even projects that have secured zoning approval and appropriate facilities, and demonstrated community demand, may struggle to access the financing necessary to move forward.

This gap in financing has real consequences. Families across Long Island are already experiencing the impact of limited child care availability. Parents are delaying career opportunities,

would not only destabilize the grid but devastate entire communities.

Nuclear power is not a panacea. Renewables will continue to expand, but the idea that wind and solar alone can replace firm, dispatchable baseload power in the near term is not supported by grid realities. Even the Union of Concerned Scientists acknowledges that maintaining existing nuclear capacity can play a role in reducing emissions during the transition.

The real question isn’t whether ZECs cost money. It is whether abandoning them would cost more in emissions, in reliability failures, in lost jobs and, ultimately, in higher long-term energy prices.

New York’s energy transition must be grounded in pragmatism, not ideology. Preserving zero-emission nuclear generation through ZECs isn’t a step backward. It is a necessary bridge, one that ensures we reach a cleaner future without falling into the very pitfalls critics claim to oppose.

PATRICk GUIdICE Holtsville

Patrick Guidice is the business manager of IBEW Local 1049, representing over 4,000 workers in the electrical and gas utility industry on Long Island. Karl Grossman’s column did not appear in all print editions of the Herald, but can be found at liherald. com/oped.

adjusting work schedules or leaving the workforce entirely because they cannot find reliable care for their children.

Employers also feel the effects. Businesses depend on employees who depend on child care. When their child care options are limited, workforce participation declines and productivity suffers.

Expanding child care isn’t simply about building classrooms. It’s about investing in the system that allows families, businesses and communities to function. Long Island has no shortage of educators who are committed to serving families and expanding access to early learning opportunities. What we need now is greater alignment between that commitment and the financial system that supports small businesses trying to meet this urgent need.

When approved child care projects can’t move forward due to lack of financing, it should prompt an important conversation about how we invest in one of the most essential services our communities depend on.

Child care isn’t a luxury. It is the foundation that allows families to work, businesses to operate and communities to grow. If Long Island is serious about addressing the child care shortage, we must ensure that providers who are ready to expand have a viable path to do so.

Janna Rodriguez is an early childhood educator and a small-business owner in Freeport.

FrAmework by Tim Baker

Dancing to ‘Uptown Funk’ at Covert School’s Variety Show — Rockville Centre